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Marble and Granite offers an array of tiles from around the world, providing beautiful, durable products for your home. Before installing your tile, here are a few points to consider.  Keep in mind that the guidelines for particular projects may vary. Verify proper installation techniques for each project.

Tiles are often transported in boxes of 10 tiles each, weighing approximately 60 lbs. Handle with care.

After ensuring that you have received the proper order, remove the tiles from the box and arrange them in the designated space in a random order; it is not necessary or recommended to arrange the tiles in the order in which they were shipped. Consider the direction of the stone's veining to create a unified arrangement.




Once you have laid out the stone, ensure that there are extras for odd spaces, errors, etc. If you do not have adequate tiles for the space do not proceed. Ordering additional tiles may result in inconsistent tone.

When installing tile, you have the option of using adhesive or mechanical anchoring. The recommended technique depends on the size of the tiles and where you will put them. Indoor and outdoor installations have different methods so be sure to verify with a fabricator or installer.

Also, if you are not installing the tile yourself, speak with the installer and  approve the grout that he or she plans to use on your project. Color and material will effect the overall look of your project.

Source: Marble and Granite

Image by Shane Adams

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Appreciate your granite countertops for all of their natural and intricate beauty. Marble and Granite has buyers throughout the world locating and selecting high quality granites with blends of minerals to provide unique colors and patterns for your home.

Granite is one of the most common igneous rocks used in residential design. Mined from all continents around the world, it is composed of numerous minerals that have fused together or formed under high pressure. Common minerals found in granite are quarts K-feldspars, plagioclase feldspars, potassium, and micas.

Quartz is one of the last minerals to form in granite. It acts as a bond between other minerals. Although it is colorless, it often appears gray because it reflects the colors of dark and light minerals around it. Mica is found in two major varieties in granite: muscovite, biotite and lepidolite. Muscovite and Biotite are forms of mica that quartz may reflect for its silver and black properties, respectively. In lepidolite form, mica may give granite a or violet of pink color.



Additional color sources in granite include K feldspars. K feldspars provide a variety of colors for granite including blues, blacks, pinks and yellows. Plagioclase feldspars are often white with a pearly finish.

For quality granite products in colors to match any design, call Marble and Granite at 877-39-STONE.

Source: Galleries.com

Image Source: Caesar Stone

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Sealers can be great tools for protecting your natural stone but it is important to understand their limitations.

Myth: Natural stone sealers prevent staining.

Fact: Some stones, like granite and soapstone, rarely stain. Some marble and travertine may stain if the spill is not wiped up immediately. Either way, a sealer only slows down the natural rate at which stone absorbs liquids; sealers do not create some impenetrable force field around your stone.

Not all sealers are created equal. SenGuard Permanent Bond Sealer is an excellent liquid repellent and dramatically reduces stones' absorption rates. But if a cracked bottle of oil or unnoticed drop of wine remains on the surface too long, you will still have stained stone.

This also means that sealers do not protect your stone from etching and water stains either. Find an etch remover polish or contact a professional to correct etching issues with your marble and other stones.

Myth: Sealing natural stone will keep it shiny.

Fact: Sealers do not enhance shine. Polish does. In some cases, such as with granite, only a mechanical process using diamond abrasives can restore or increase shine.

It is important to note that acids (coffee, soda) slowly damage the shine on marble, limestone and travertine counter tops so it is important to clean up spills immediately to prevent staining and to maintain shine.

For further information on natural stone care, or to add natural stone to your home, call Marble and Granite Inc. at 877.39-STONE or visit marbleandgranite.com.

Source: countertopspecialty.com

Image Source: HansNYC